Case study:Conservation strategies for forest and wild river in Gesaeuse: the River Enns restoration

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Location: 48° 13' 59.70" N, 14° 30' 54.62" E

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Project overview

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Status	Complete
Project web site	http://www.nationalpark.co.at/nationalpark/de/life.php?navid=102
Themes	Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Land use management - forestry, Monitoring
Country	Austria
Main contact forename	Daniel
Main contact surname	Kreiner
Main contact user ID
Contact organisation	Gesäuse National Park
Contact organisation web site	http://www.nationalpark.co.at
Partner organisations
This is a parent project encompassing the following projects	Conservation strategies for forest and wild river in Gesaeuse: the Johnsbach Beck restoration

Project picture

Project summary

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The natural habitats in and beside the River Enns as well as the Johnsbach brook improved significantly with the implementation of this LIFE+ funded project, delivered by the National Park in the River Enns and its surrounding ecosystems. Restoration actions took place in multiple sites to re-establish an ecologically functioning wetland along the water courses and tributaries, with focus in connectivity (transversal and longitudinal) and landscape diversity.

Works in the rivers Enns and Palten included the creation of a new estuary in their confluence. Bank reinforcement structures along 500 m of the River Enns were replaced by typical riverine structures (i.e. gravel banks, bank erosion areas, piles of deadwood) which are developing. A new large pond for amphibians was completely cut-off from both rivers to prevent the immigration of fishes. Common frogs (“Rana temporaria”) and European toads (“Bufo bufo”) breed here.

Another target was the re-naturalisation of the floodplain forest for enhancing longitudinal connectivity of the river Enns. 306 ha of spruce dominated forests are now a natural mixed forest. Restoration of the River Enns and its surrounding ecosystems are also in line with a long-term strategy to protect special habitats and endangered species (i.e. Black woodpecker (“Dryocopus martius”), Eurasian pygmy owl (“Glaucidium passerinum) and the Rosalia longicorn (Rosalia alpina).

With focus on mountain pastures and species (i.e. black grouse (Tetrao tetrix), yellow bellied toad (“Bombina variegate”), etc.), the regulation of grazing intensity and access to drinking water in within the project area were also a priority.

A monitoring programme was established for the assessment of restoration outcomes. Increasing public awareness and dissemination of results are supported by public activities. For instance, specially trained wardens are to guide visitors and provide information on restoration outcomes in terms of habitats and landscape diversity and services. In addition, a thematic trail with interactive information facilities is in place.

The River Restoration Centre would like to thank Daniel Kreiner from the Gesäuse National Park for providing the information and photographs for this case study.

Monitoring surveys and results

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Lessons learnt

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Catchment and subcatchment

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Site

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Name
WFD water body codes
WFD (national) typology
WFD water body name
Pre-project morphology
Reference morphology
Desired post project morphology
Heavily modified water body	No
National/international site designation
Local/regional site designations	National Park, Natura 2000
Protected species present	Yes
Invasive species present	Yes
Species of interest	Alcedo atthis, Bombina variegata, Bonasa bonasia, Cottus gobio, Cypripedium calceolus, Dendrocopos leucotos,  Eudontomyzon spp., Ficedula parva, Leuciscus souffia, Lutra lutra, Picoides tridactylus, Picus canus, Rosalia alpina, Tetrao tetrix tetrix, Tetrao urogallus
Dominant hydrology
Dominant substrate
River corridor land use
Average bankfull channel width category
Average bankfull channel width (m)
Average bankfull channel depth category
Average bankfull channel depth (m)
Mean discharge category
Mean annual discharge (m3/s)	201201 m³/s <br />201,000 l/s <br />
Average channel gradient category
Average channel gradient
Average unit stream power (W/m2)

Project background

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Reach length directly affected (m)
Project started	2005/08/01
Works started
Works completed
Project completed	2011/02/01
Total cost category
Total cost (k€)	2,363.206 2,363.206 k€ <br />2,363,206 € <br />
Benefit to cost ratio
Funding sources	EU LIFE III

Cost for project phases

Phase	cost category	cost exact (k€)	Lead organisation	Contact forename	Contact surname
Investigation and design
Stakeholder engagement and communication
Works and works supervision
Post-project management and maintenance
Monitoring

Supplementary funding information

Total budget 2,363,206.00 € EU contribution 1,181,603.00 €

Reasons for river restoration

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Mitigation of a pressure	Regulation of water courses,  intensive forestry practices,  tourism,  traffic
Hydromorphology
Biology
Physico-chemical
Other reasons for the project

Measures

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Structural measures
Bank/bed modifications	Construction of gravel banks, Bank restoration, Creation of pools and riffles, Bank stabilization and erosion protection, Creation of pools and riffles
Floodplain / River corridor	Construction a new pond, Develop riparian forest
Planform / Channel pattern
Other	Creation of a new estuary
Non-structural measures
Management interventions	Monitoring strategy
Social measures (incl. engagement)	Educating the community on environmental protection and promoting environmentally-friendly behaviour
Other	Popularization of the project

Monitoring

Hydromorphological quality elements

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quality elements

Element	When monitored		Type of monitoring		Control site used	Result
	Before measures	After measures	Qualitative	Quantitative

Biological quality elements

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quality elements

Element	When monitored		Type of monitoring		Control site used	Result
	Before measures	After measures	Qualitative	Quantitative

Physico-chemical quality elements

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quality elements

Element	When monitored		Type of monitoring		Control site used	Result
	Before measures	After measures	Qualitative	Quantitative

Any other monitoring, e.g. social, economic

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Element	When monitored		Type of monitoring		Control site used	Result
	Before measures	After measures	Qualitative	Quantitative

Monitoring documents

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Image gallery

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Additional documents and videos

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Additional links and references

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Link	Description
http://www.life-enns.at/projekt en.php	LIFE Enns Fluss Landschaft Enns
http://www.nationalpark.co.at/nationalpark/de/life.php	Life-Project: Conservation strategies for forest and wild river in Gesaeuse
http://www.nationalpark.co.at/nationalpark/de/life-gewaesser-ennsleitlinie.php	Gewässer-Auen-Leitlinie „Enns“ (Partnerprojekt)

Supplementary Information

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1. Nationalpark Gesäuse GmbH (2010) Laienbericht des Projektes

2. Nationalpark Gesäuse GmbH (2011) Project's Final Report